Jacksonville Robbery, Battery Alleged in Attack on 80-Year-Old

An 80-year-old woman was attacked, robbed and had her car stolen, The Florida Times-Union is reporting, and a man now faces several charges in the Jacksonville crime spree.

Charges of battery in Jacksonville can be filed for anything from a street fight to a domestic-violence situation. Police will tend to file the highest charge possible against a defendant when injuries are involved.
And there are situations where it’s unclear who exactly is the victim and who is the suspect. These are the cases where an experienced Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer can step in and ensure that the defendant’s rights are upheld. Independently investigating the case, looking into the credibility of witnesses and police statements and other facts is critical to proving who is at fault.

In this case, a 22-year-old was arrested and charged with prompting the attack on the south side of the city. The woman was left unconscious after the beating.

The man had blood on his shoes when he was arrested and police say he had the keys to her car on him when they found him. He now faces charges of home-invasion robbery, aggravated battery and auto theft.

The woman said that a man in his 20s came to her house twice that morning asking to use her telephone. She said he told her he had missed the bus and needed to call his mother. The second time, the woman told police, he hit her in the head until she blacked out.

An hour later, the woman came to and was bleeding heavily from her head. Her 1993 Toyota had been stolen. About six hours later, the police found the car abandoned. Within 15 minutes, they found the 22-year-old walking nearby.

The 80-year-old was hospitalized and was listed in fair condition as she recovered from her injuries.

It may be difficult for the man to show why he was holding the keys to the woman’s car at the time he was arrested and why he allegedly drove it around for six hours and then left it abandoned on a street. Surely, investigators have taken his shoes and will be testing them to see if the blood on the shoes matches the woman’s blood.

These charges can result in serious penalties, including decades in prison. In cases where there are injuries to a victim, the degree of the charge can increase. So, too, can prosecutors increase charges when the elderly or a child is the victim of a battery.

DNA testing is heavily relied upon by investigators and prosecutors, but there are still problems with the technology. In many cases, lab workers aren’t able to say with 100 percent scientific certainty that the DNA from the suspect or victim is a match. That means there may be other people’s DNA in the sample or that the experts can’t say to whom the DNA belongs.

In many cases, this is a critical aspect of the case and a jury of everyday people needs to have an easy-to-understand explanation of what all the data means. An experienced Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer will be able to explain that, as well as handle all aspects of a major felony case.

The Forbess Law Firm has been aiding clients who face criminal charges in Jacksonville for more than a decade and is here to provide aggressive criminal defense to anyone accused of a crime. If you or a loved one requires a Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer, contact our firm today. We are available through our website or by calling us at 904-634-0900.